Syriac Catholic cathedral, Catholic cathedral in Christian Quarter, Damascus, Syria
The Syriac Catholic cathedral is a church in the Christian quarter of Damascus, close to the eastern gate known as Bab Sharqi and overlooking the Straight Street. The building has heavy columns in a classical style and serves as the main church for the Syriac Catholic community of the city.
The church was heavily damaged during an attack on the Christian quarter in 1860 and rebuilt just three years later. The building standing today is therefore largely a product of that reconstruction effort from the 1860s.
The Syriac Catholic community celebrates liturgies here in Aramaic, one of the oldest spoken languages still in use today. Visitors who attend a service can hear this ancient language spoken aloud in a living place of worship.
The cathedral is open to tourists and worshippers alike, but visiting hours can shift during religious holidays and community celebrations. Dressing modestly and keeping quiet when a service is underway is a good idea.
The site once held a church dedicated to Moses the Ethiopian, which became the subject of disputes between the Syriac Orthodox and Catholic communities in the 17th century. Those tensions shaped how the two communities shared space in the Christian quarter for a long time after.
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